Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? New Living Translation But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? English Standard Version But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Berean Standard Bible But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Berean Literal Bible But you have dishonored the poor. Are not the rich oppressing you and they dragging you into court? King James Bible But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? New King James Version But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? New American Standard Bible But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? NASB 1995 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? NASB 1977 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? Legacy Standard Bible But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and they themselves drag you into court? Amplified Bible But you [in contrast] have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress and exploit you, and personally drag you into the courts of law? Christian Standard Bible Yet you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? Holman Christian Standard Bible Yet you dishonored that poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? American Standard Version But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats? Contemporary English Version You mistreat the poor. But isn't it the rich who boss you around and drag you off to court? English Revised Version But ye have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats? GOD'S WORD® Translation Yet, you show no respect to poor people. Don't rich people oppress you and drag you into court? Good News Translation But you dishonor the poor! Who are the ones who oppress you and drag you before the judges? The rich! International Standard Version But you have humiliated the man who is poor. Are not rich people the ones who oppress you and drag you into court? Majority Standard Bible But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? NET Bible But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts? New Heart English Bible But you have dishonored the poor person. Do not the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts? Webster's Bible Translation But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment-seats? Weymouth New Testament But *you* have put dishonour upon the poor man. Yet is it not the rich who grind you down? Are not they the very people who drag you into the Law courts? -- World English Bible But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and personally drag you before the courts? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBut you dishonored the poor one. Do the rich not oppress you and themselves draw you to judgment-seats? Berean Literal Bible But you have dishonored the poor. Are not the rich oppressing you and they dragging you into court? Young's Literal Translation and ye did dishonour the poor one; do not the rich oppress you and themselves draw you to judgment-seats; Smith's Literal Translation And ye have despised the beggar. Do not the rich bring you into subjection, and draw you before tribunals? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? and do not they draw you before the judgment seats? Catholic Public Domain Version But you have dishonored the poor. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you through power? And are not they the ones who drag you to judgment? New American Bible But you dishonored the poor person. Are not the rich oppressing you? And do they themselves not haul you off to court? New Revised Standard Version But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut you have despised the poor. Do not rich men exalt themselves over you and drag you before the judgment seat? Aramaic Bible in Plain English But you have despised the poor. Behold, do not the rich have dominion over you and drag you to court? NT Translations Anderson New TestamentBut you dishonor the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and do they not themselves drag you to the judgment-seats? Godbey New Testament You have dishonored the poor. Do not the rich domineer over you, and drag you into courts? Haweis New Testament but ye have put contempt on the poor man? Do not the rich men tyrannize over you? and they drag you to the tribunals. Mace New Testament but you, who despise the poor, are not you oppress'd by the rich? is it not they who drag you to their tribunals? Weymouth New Testament But *you* have put dishonour upon the poor man. Yet is it not the rich who grind you down? Are not they the very people who drag you into the Law courts? -- Worrell New Testament But ye dishonored the poor man! Do not the rich oppress you, and do they not drag you before the judgment-seats? Worsley New Testament Do not the rich tyrannize over you; and drag you to their tribunals? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Warning against Favoritism…5Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? 6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?… Cross References Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him. Proverbs 22:16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty. Proverbs 22:22-23 Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate, / for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them. Isaiah 3:14-15 The LORD brings this charge against the elders and leaders of His people: “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses. / Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts. Isaiah 10:1-2 Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder. Amos 4:1 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, who say to your husbands, “Bring us more to drink.” Amos 5:11-12 Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact from him a tax of grain, you will never live in the stone houses you have built; you will never drink the wine from the lush vineyards you have planted. / For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate. Micah 2:1-2 Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. / They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance. Micah 3:1-3 Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice? / You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones. / You eat the flesh of my people after stripping off their skin and breaking their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron.” Zechariah 7:10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’ Malachi 3:5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts. Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10-11 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. / Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Matthew 23:14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. Luke 6:24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Treasury of Scripture But you have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? ye. James 2:3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Psalm 14:6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge. Proverbs 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. Do. James 5:4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Job 20:19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not; Psalm 10:2,8,10,14 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined… and. James 5:6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. 1 Kings 21:11-13 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them… Acts 4:1-3,26-28 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, … Jump to Previous Court Courts Despised Dishonored Dishonour Drag Dragging Draw Force Grind Insulted Judgment Ones Oppress Personally Poor Rich Rulers Seats WealthJump to Next Court Courts Despised Dishonored Dishonour Drag Dragging Draw Force Grind Insulted Judgment Ones Oppress Personally Poor Rich Rulers Seats WealthJames 2 1. Do not regard the rich and despise the poor brothers;13. rather we are to be loving and merciful; 14. and not to boast of faith without deeds; 17. because faith without deeds is useless; 19. as is the faith of the demons; 21. however, Abraham displayed both faith and actions; 25. as did Rahab. But you have dishonored the poor. This phrase highlights a recurring biblical theme of God's concern for the poor and marginalized. In the cultural context of the early church, the poor were often overlooked and undervalued. The dishonoring of the poor contradicts the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized love and equality (Matthew 25:40). The early Christian community was called to reflect God's impartiality (Acts 10:34-35) and to care for the needy (Galatians 2:10). This rebuke serves as a reminder of the biblical principle that true religion involves caring for the less fortunate (James 1:27). Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Persons / Places / Events 1. JamesThe author of the epistle, traditionally identified as James, the brother of Jesus and a leader in the early Jerusalem church. He writes with authority and pastoral concern for the believers. 2. The Poor Individuals within the Christian community who lack material wealth and social status. James highlights their mistreatment by others in the community. 3. The Rich Those with wealth and influence, often depicted in this context as oppressors who exploit their power to the detriment of the poor. 4. The Early Church The community of believers to whom James writes, facing internal and external challenges, including issues of partiality and social justice. 5. Courts Legal settings where the rich are accused of dragging the poor, symbolizing the misuse of power and influence to exploit others. Teaching Points The Sin of PartialityJames condemns favoritism, especially when it leads to the mistreatment of the poor. Believers are called to treat all people with dignity and respect, reflecting God's impartial love. The Danger of Wealth Wealth can lead to pride and oppression. Christians should be wary of allowing material wealth to corrupt their values and relationships. Justice and Advocacy The church is called to stand against injustice and advocate for the marginalized. This includes speaking out against systems and practices that exploit the poor. True Riches in Christ Believers are reminded that true wealth is found in Christ, not in material possessions. Our identity and worth are rooted in our relationship with Him. Community Accountability The church must hold each other accountable to live out the values of the kingdom, ensuring that actions align with the teachings of Christ.(6) But ye have despised the poor.--Better, ye dishonoured the poor man--i.e., when, as already mentioned (James 2:2-3), you exalted the rich unto the "good place" of your synagogue. Thus whom God had called and chosen, you refused. "It is unworthy," observes Calvin on this passage, "to cast down those whom God lifts up, and to treat them shamefully whom He vouchsafes to honour. But God honoureth the poor; therefore whoever he is that rejects them perverts the ordinance of God." Do not rich men oppress you?--Or, lord it over you as a class; not assuredly that this can be said of each wealthy individual. It is the rich man, of the earth earthy, trusting in his riches (comp. Matthew 10:24), who makes them a power for evil and not for good. Here is presented the other side of the argument, used on behalf of the poor, viz., observe first how God regards them (James 2:5), and next, judge their adversaries by their own behaviour. Draw you before the judgment seats?--Better, Do they not drag you into courts of justice? "Hale" you, as the old English word has it. Summum jus summa injuria--extreme of right is extreme of wrong--a legal maxim oft exemplified. The purse-proud litigious man is the hardest to deal with, and the one who specially will grind the faces of the poor. No body of laws could on the whole be more equitable than the Roman, but their administration in the provinces was frequently in venal hands; and besides, the large fees demanded by the juris-consulti--"the learned in the law"--quite barred the way of the poorer suitors, such as, for the most part, were the Christians to whom this Letter was written. Verse 6. - You have dishonored by your treatment the poor man, whom God chose; while those rich men to whom ye pay such honor are just the very persons who(1) oppress you and (2) blaspheme God and Christ. Poor... rich. In the Old Testament we occasionally find the term "poor" parallel to "righteous" (Amos 2:6; Amos 5:12); and "rich" to "wicked" (Isaiah 53:9). St. James's use here is somewhat similar (see on James 1:9, etc.). "Christiani multi ex pauperibus erant: pauci ex divitibus" (Bengel). The "rich men" here alluded to are evidently such as was the Apostle Paul before his conversion. (1) They dragged the poor Christians before the judgment-seat (ἕλκουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς κριτήρια). So Saul, "haling (σύρων) men and women, committed them to prison" (Acts 8:3). . . . Greek Butδὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. you ὑμεῖς (hymeis) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. have dishonored ἠτιμάσατε (ētimasate) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 818: To disgrace, treat disgracefully, dishonor, insult; I despise. From atimos; to render infamous, i.e. contemn or maltreat. the τὸν (ton) Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. poor. πτωχόν (ptōchon) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular Strong's 4434: Poor, destitute, spiritually poor, either in a good sense (humble devout persons) or bad. [Is it] not οὐχ (ouch) Adverb Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. the οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. rich πλούσιοι (plousioi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 4145: Rich, abounding in, wealthy; subst: a rich man. From ploutos; wealthy; figuratively, abounding with. who oppress καταδυναστεύουσιν (katadynasteuousin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 2616: To overpower, quell, treat harshly. From kata and a derivative of dunastes; to exercise dominion against, i.e. Oppress. you ὑμῶν (hymōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. drag ἕλκουσιν (helkousin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1670: To drag, draw, pull, persuade, unsheathe. Or helko hel'-ko; probably akin to haireomai; to drag. you ὑμᾶς (hymas) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. into εἰς (eis) Preposition Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. court? κριτήρια (kritēria) Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural Strong's 2922: Neuter of a presumed derivative of krites; a rule of judging, i.e. a tribunal. Links James 2:6 NIVJames 2:6 NLT James 2:6 ESV James 2:6 NASB James 2:6 KJV James 2:6 BibleApps.com James 2:6 Biblia Paralela James 2:6 Chinese Bible James 2:6 French Bible James 2:6 Catholic Bible NT Letters: James 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor man (Ja Jas. Jam) |
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